WEST
Ever heard those little whisperings from someone swearing by their gym? That it's the best thing since gym gloves? Well, Sand West Fitness Studio is among those being whispered about.
According to Omar West, operations manager for the Northside Plaza fitness centre, it's the individual attention which they give clients which has kept them happy for five years.
"We target clients who, for whatever reason, don't want to be in the regular gym setting," said West. Individuals vary from the shy to those who need personal attention because of health reasons.
"A lot of our clients are not so much wanting to lose a few vanity pounds, but are here really for health reasons; to control cholesterol, control diabetes, heart disease and flexibility."
Once a new client comes in, we discuss their goals, assess their body-fat percentage, address nutrition issues and test their strength and flexibility levels.
A specialised programme is then designed for that person and once their sessions begin, they are seen on an appointment basis.
"Generally, when you join a gym it's pretty much a carbon-copy kind of a thing, even if you have a trainer," he said.
Clients on average spend an hour and a half per session. There are no aerobic classes, and cardiovascular exercises and weight training are done on an individual basis with one of the three trainers.
Impossible to Monitor everyone
"In order to burn fat, we try to keep you in the fat-burning zone for the most benefit. When you're doing a class, it's almost impossible to monitor everyone," said West about why they shy away from classes.
Instead, machines like the elliptical cross trainer, stairmaster, recumbent cycle and treadmills and, in some instances, floor exercises are used for cardiovascular work.
The machines, he said, do a great job as they measure the heart rate and identify when you have reached the optimal zone.
Nutrition also plays an integral role in weight loss and what you eat is closely monitored.
"Sometimes we ask them to write down every single thing that they eat and we have some software that we input all this information and analyse your nutrition," said West. "And they'll have something in writing to see where they are falling short."
Common problem area
While at his studio, West addressed one of the problem areas common to men and women, the abdominals. Trainer Carlene Green demonstrated five exercises to help get your stomach in shape.
"Before you start doing crunch, crunch, crunch from now until next year, you want to ensure that your body-fat percentage is in an acceptable range. That's one of the really big misconceptions in fitness; that crunch, crunch, crunch and your stomach is going to be flat. It does not work. Not to say you are not supposed to do crunches if you have a stomach, it is just that you need to start losing some of that fat from in the stomach before you start putting emphasis on the stomach."
West pointed out that once an individual is practising proper nutrition, doing cardiovascular and lifting weights they will experience weight loss.
However, he emphasised that you can't isolate one area to lose weight. Weight loss will happen all over the body and usually the first place you gain weight is the last area you'll lose it.
One of West's aims is to see Jamaicans get more aware about fitness, not for specific occasions, but because of the effects of obesity and other lifestyle diseases.
Sand West Fitness Studio
Shop 8, 26 Northside Plaza
Kingston 6
Ball crunch: Leaning against an exercise ball with legs apart, crunch upwards. For all crunches, exhale when coming up and inhale when releasing. - photos by Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
Knee raise: Bring knees up to the chest, squeeze the stomach. Exhale when your knee is going up and inhale when going down. Thirty repetitions are recommended per exercise.
Straight leg floor crunches: With legs raised, pull your torso towards your legs while squeezing the abdominal muscles. Be careful not to pull on your neck. - photos by Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
Reverse crunch